Elmer Fortner, 82, of Prichard, WV., passed away Monday, November 4, 2024 in the St. Mary’s Medical Center. Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 P.M. Friday, November 8, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home with Pastor Scott Byard officiating. Elmer was born March 15, 1942 in Genoa, WV. a son of the late Willie and Myrtle Berry Fortner. He was a member of the First Independent Missionary Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife Barbara Carol Hayton Fortner and 7 siblings. He is survived by one daughter and son-in-law Tammy Smith (Richard), two sons and one daughter-in-law Chris Allen Fortner and Shawn Fortner (Tina); step-daughter Renee Wellman (Brian); grandchildren Caitlin Smith-Trautwein, Kelsey Spears (Jeremy), Elizabeth Holbrook (Landon), Morgan Cochenour (Jeremy), Zach Wellman (Meredith), Elijah Wellman (Erin) and Sophie Johnson (Jonathan) and numerous great grandchildren. He is also survived by his loving neighbors John and Beth Workman and his best buddy Bill McCallister, Jr. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com. Continue reading “Elmer Fortner”
Joseph Everett Johnson
Joseph Everett Johnson, 83, of Prichard, WV. went home to be with his Lord Friday, October 25, 2024 at Paramount Senior Living. Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova with Pastor Zachary Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in White Chapel Memorial Gardens. He was born April 25, 1941in Huntington, WV. a son of the late Walter and Nina Curnutte Johnson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Alfreida Johnson and son Walter Keith Johnson. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Karl Wayne Johnson (Diana); daughter-in-law Roberta Johnson; grandchildren Seth Johnson (Courtenay), Zachary Johnson (Angie) and Caleb Johnson (Casey); 7 great-grandchildren and a sister Roberta Saunders. Visitation will be 12:30 -1:00 P.M. on Wednesday. Rollins Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at rollinsfh.com.
Clyde Edward “Jack” Wilson
Clyde Edward “Jack” Wilson, 80, of South Point, Ohio went to be with the Lord, Sunday, October 20, 2024 in Cabell-Huntington Hospital. Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 P.M. Thursday, October 24, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova with Pastor Manfred Langer officiating. He was born June 19, 1944 in Kenova, WV. a son of the late Anthony and Garnet Robertson Wilson. He was a 1962 graduate of Ceredo-Kenova High School. Jack was retired from INCO after 47 years of service. He was a longtime member of the Ceredo Baptist Church and attended Grace Gospel Church. He also attended the Tri-State Bible College until recently. Jack was a dedicated and loving servant to the Lord. He was a wonderful grandpa who was loved by all. In his spare time, he enjoyed studying the bible and looking after everyone’s needs. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings Marie Wilson Frisby, Jewell Wilson Bell, Louise Wilson Endicott, Phyllis Wilson Ross, Elizabeth Wilson Frazier, Paul Wilson, Bill Wilson and Carl Anthony Wilson. He is survived by his three children Jeff Wilson, Tiffany Copenhaver (Kevin) and Christopher Wilson (Ellie); grandchildren Cody Wilson, Derek Wilson, Dustin Wilson, Hannah Copenhaver, Lindsey Copenhaver, Madi Wilson and Addison Ferguson; great-grandchildren Stetson Wilson and Weston Ferguson; former daughter-in-law Penny Wilson; former wife Carol Wilson and his favorite niece Carol Sue who loved him like her own father. In Lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Huntington City Mission or the Salvation Army. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Rollins Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at rollinsfh.com.
Tamara Sue Walter’s
TAMARA SUE WALTERS — or as her daughter calls her, Tams — 62, passed away in her childhood home on October 18, 2024. She was born on June 20, 1962, with her father Jim’s big blue eyes, and grew up in Ceredo, WV with her parents, Jim and Hope, and her four older siblings, Jolly, Donny, Patti, and Kenny. On long car rides to Nags Head, where the family went to vacation on the beach every year, she was famous for complaining of nausea to get a prime seat up front with her parents. She played the flute in her high school marching band, got into polite but regular mischief with her best friends Kim and Patti, and loved flying with her dad, who was a pilot.
After enrolling at Marshall University, where she studied to be a paralegal, the beach called to Tams again. She moved to the west coast of Florida, and worked at a radio station on Longboat Key. It would spark a lifelong love of sailing. She eventually moved to Miami to work at a music video company called The Box, where she found herself in situations that, later recounted to her daughter and friends, had them screaming “WHAT?!” She was a self-described introvert who disliked attention but somehow found herself partying with music royalty. She had the time of her life.
She left that job after her daughter, Morgan, was born in 1995. Tams wouldn’t consider it editorializing to say that being a mom was the best job she ever had. They were Tams and Morgs: They were inseparable, and they were the best of friends. Tamara brought her own childlike wonder at the world to parenting. She made elaborate scavenger hunts around the house on holidays; smashed eggs on Morgan’s head when they were baking; pulled Morgan fully clothed into the bath just to make her laugh. Life wasn’t always easy, but that was okay — navigating loss is possible when you have your soulmate by your side.
Tams was a rare creature — in awe of every beautiful thing she saw, and not ashamed to express it. She was equally likely to sit in her rocking chair listening to classical music as she was to bellow at the TV during a basketball game. As a hobby photographer, she saw the texture of the world in great detail. There wasn’t a sunset or a plant she didn’t love. When she wasn’t with friends, she spent most nights on her patio tending to her riot of orchids; much like her mom Hope, she could coax even the farthest gone plant back to life.
She is preceded in death by her beloved brother, Jolliffe Edward Walters, and her parents, Jim and Hope Walters. She is survived by her siblings James Donovan Walters, Patricia Anne Jones, and Kenneth Michael Walters, as well as her daughter, Morgan Hope.
Dolores Hope Walters
DOLORES HOPE WALTERS, 94, of Ceredo, WV, passed away Thursday, October 17, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving children. Hope, as she was lovingly referred to, was born on September 14, 1930, to the late Geyger Edward Fugitt and the late Ethel Belcher Fugitt. She graduated from South Point High School and was Valedictorian of her graduating class. She married the love of her life, the late James Daniel (Jim) Walters on Christmas Eve, 1951. Together they raised five wonderful children. She was a devoted member and former Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of Kenova. In addition to being a homemaker, she worked at Tri State Aviation and Cook Eye Center. She was also an avid seamstress and crocheter.She dearly loved her family and enjoyed the times they shared together whether it was sitting around the house talking and telling stories, celebrating birthdays, or some other accomplishment by one of her children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, and husband, Hope was preceded in death by one son, Jolliffe “Jolly” Edward Walters. One daughter, Tamara Sue (Tammy) Walters passed away suddenly the day after Hope’s death. Hope is survived by her cherished children, James “Jim” Donovan Walters and his wife, Bernetta “Bernie” of Wilmore, KY; Patti Jones, her devoted, loving caregiver for the past six years, and her husband, Chuck of Huntington; Kenneth “Kenny” Walters and his wife Richelle “Richie” of Ceredo. Also surviving are her much loved grandchildren, James Matthew Walters and his wife, Anne, Bradley Dale Wright, Brian Alan Walters and his wife, Jen, Jeremy Michael Walters and his wife, Jorden, Jad Anthony Walters and his wife, Erin, James “Jami” Patrick Walters, Dylan Smith, Morgan Hope Baskin and Vanessa McKenzie Bartholomew. Her special great grandchildren, Lauren Hope Walters, Natalie Marie Walters, Max Walters, Hannah Rhys Walters, Cadin Michael Walters, Jace Makai Walters, Griffin Patrick Walters, Helena Hope Walters and great-great-granddaughter, Josie Renae. Rollins Funeral Home is handling the arrangements for a private family memorial service. The Walters family would like to thank her Hospice caregivers and Patti Rollins for her loving assistance to the family. Entombment will be in Rose Hill Burial Park in Ashland, Ky.
Oscar Lee Hatten
Oscar Lee Hatten, 75, of Ft. Gay, WV., passed away Monday, October 14, 2024 at the Sanctuary of The Ohio Valley. Funeral service will be conducted 12:30 P.M. Monday, October 21, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Interment will follow in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Northeast. Oscar was born July 2, 1949 in Prichard, WV. a son of the late Opal Hurley Hatten Sprague. Oscar was a retired lineman from AEP. He never met a stranger and enjoyed talking, it is heard told that he could talk to a brick wall and the wall enjoyed every minute. Oscar was a veteran having served in the U.S. Army. In addition to his mother, he was also preceded in death by a brother Joe Hurley, sister Lona Akins, brother-in-law Henderson (Googie) Adkins and sister-in-law Gigi Hurley. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law Kenneth Hatten (Susan); a daughter and son-in-law Shelley McFeeley (Dennis) and eight grandchildren Tashena Hatten (Derrick), Hannah Hatten, Chayse McFeeley, Jaden McFeeley, Garryk McFeeley, Brylee McFeeley, Jaxon McFeeley and Mia McFeeley. The family would like to give a special thank you to Carla Rowsey for all her help and being his best friend. In lieu of flowers donations are requested to be made to any Hurricane Relief Effort drop off center. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.
George Phillip Smith
George Phillip Smith, 82, of Catlettsburg, Ky., passed away Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the Livingston Regional Hospital. Funeral service will be conducted 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova with Pastor Neil Wilks officiating. Burial will be private. George was born March 17, 1942 in Ashland, Ky. a son of the late Thomas and Belle Hardin Smith. He was a farmer and loved to fish and enjoyed his time with friends at Hardees. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his beloved wife Patricia Sharon Hall Smith; precious grandson Spencer Smith and two brothers Donald Smith and Jerome Thomas Buckley. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law Phillip Hardin Smith (Erin) and granddaughter Shelby Henderson (Peyton). Visitation will be from 12:00 – 2:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.
Barbara Ruth Caldwell Cole Watts
Barbara Ruth Caldwell Cole Watts, 86, of Kenova, WV., passed away Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the Community Hospice Care Center. Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 P.M. Monday, October 14, 2024 at the Catlettsburg Harvest Church of God with Bishop Howard Wirzfeld officiating. Interment will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery. Barbara was born April 15, 1938 in Kenova, WV. a daughter of the late Bogar and Eula Parsley Caldwell. She was a former police dispatcher with the City of Kenova Police Department. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death her first husband James Elliott Cole and her second husband Donald Watts; a son James Kevin Cole; great-great-grandson Khristian Sperry; two sisters Emogene Brumfield and Wanda June Kennedy and four brothers Manford Caldwell, Howard Caldwell, Ted Caldwell and Bobby Caldwell. Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law Angela Susie and Ernest William Willis and Rhonda Gail White; one son and daughter-in-law Dewayne Edward and Linda Cole and daughter-in-law Carrie Cole; 7 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; brother Bogar Butch Caldwell; sister Judy Roy and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Sunday, October 13, 2024 from 6 – 8 P.M. at the Catlettsburg Harvest Church of God. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.
Jeremiah E. Bolen
Jeremiah E. Bolen, 65, of Ashland, Ky., passed away Thursday, October 10, 2024 at the Community Hospice Care Center. Jeremiah was born April 21, 1959 in Sullivan, WV. a son of the late Fred Carlos and Emogene Meadows Bolen. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother Jody Bolen. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law Jeremiah E. Bolen, II (Katie), a daughter and son-in-law Haley Miles (Joseph); three grandchildren Brayden Moore, Shawn Bolen and Hope Bolen; one great-grandson Emerson Moore; eight siblings David Meadows, Paul Bolen, Linda Shrewsbury, Mary Mullens, Steve Bolen, Elizabeth Bailey, Esther Sizemore and Jeanne Modley and numerous nieces and nephews. There will be no public services at this time. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com. Continue reading “Jeremiah E. Bolen”
Charlotte Anne Warren
Charlotte Anne Warren, 86, Ceredo, WV., passed away Thursday, October 3, 2024 in St. Mary’s Medical Center. Funeral service will be conducted 2:00 P.M. Sunday, October 6, 2024 at the Ceredo Congregational Church with Pastor Marty Gute officiating. Charlotte was born May 25, 1938 in Pittsburgh, PA. a daughter of the late Frank C. and Florence Legleitner Maurer. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her beloved husband Jerry Warren. Survivors include her children Carol Taylor (Dennis), Nancy Jenkins (Ed), Tammy Salmons and Tommy Warren (Tanya); grandchildren Tiffany Criswell (Jaye), Traci Jackson (Ashley), Tara Whittington (Jeremy), Allison McFarland (Jason), Casey Kelly, Stephanie Taylor; great-grandchildren Shelby Jackson, Carley Jackson, Triston Criswell, Ariel Criswell, Jase Whittington, Braxton Whittington, Emma Wellman, Blake Kelly, Monroe McFarland, Oscar McFarland, Harry McFarland, Cheyeanna Tinsley, Chelsea Tinsley and two sisters Frankie McKinney and Sharon Maurer. Friends may call from 12:30 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. on Sunday at the church. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.